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Steve Thexton, supervisor at the Riverview Park and Zoo, says the cougar seems a little stressed, but is resting in a segregated enclosure at the zoo. He adds he is waiting for blood work results to see if the large male cat, named 'Charlie,' is suffering from any illnesses.

"(The cougar) is temporarily housed here," says Mr. Thexton.

He's not sure if the cougar will become a permanent resident at the Water Street zoo. As of now, the cougar belongs to the Crown, says Mr. Thexton.

"We are temporarily holding him for the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) at this stage in the game," says Mr Thexton. "Who knows what will happen?"

Cougars were a regular fixture at the zoo for years and were a popular attraction for zoo goers. Zoo officials cared for a male and female until the male cat died in 2011.

"And we lost the female last winter. She was 17 years old," says Mr. Thexton.

The cougar enclosure now houses tortoises.

Mr. Thexton says they have to wait until the MNR investigation is complete before deciding what to do with the cougar that was captured last week. He adds MNR officials are trying to find out where the cougar came from.

According to Jolanta Kowalski, senior media relations officer with the MNR, there is no word on where the cat came from, but the cougar's behaviour is consistent with an animal that has been in captivity before.

The cougar was found roaming rural roads in Grafton. He was eventually captured in a bear trap by the MNR on Friday (July 11) night around 8:30 p.m. The cougar was hanging out napping under trees on John Wilson's Cranberry Lake Road property at the time.

At no time did the cougar threaten Mr. Wilson's family.

“It lay down close to the house,” says Mr. Wilson. “It is unbelievable how close he was.”